From the pages of the Down Recorder, Februrary 11, 1975

From the pages of the Down Recorder, Februrary 11, 1975

11 February 2015

DRUMANESS — Drumaness villagers were served their last loaf of bread on Saturday — at least from the company which has served them for the past 43 years.

On Saturday night the last link was severed between the village and the Co-operative Society when their bread van was made obsolete as part of a phasing out programme.

The Drumaness Co-operative Society, whose store opened in 1911, but was forced to shut due to dwindling share hold capital in November of last year, first introduced the bread van in 1932. Six years later the practice ceased when it was felt the store was having to subsidise its losses.

Mr. Ivan Hanna, of Movilla Road, Downpatrick, was bread salesman at that time and he and his van were transferred to the United Co-operative Bakeries Society to resume their deliveries. A second van was introduced in 1970.

More recently the UCBS was taken over by the Co-operative Wholesale Society, who have now intimated their intention of discontinuing with the bakery business. Their phasing out operation began with country services at the weekend.

Mr. Hanna concluded his rounds at the weekend and became redundant on Saturday night. So too did Mr. Crawford Shields, the salesman in the second van. For Mr. Hanna it was a nostalgic moment.

BALLYNAHINCH — Mr. A. McClelland gave a talk on ‘Sidelights in Ballynahinch History’ to the members of Ballynahinch Business and Professional Women’s Club at their meeting last week.

Mr. McClelland is the assistant keeper and librarian at the Ulster Folk Museum and is the author of several books, including one detailing the history of Saintfield and district.

The attentive audience heard Mr. McClelland’s account of the development of the town and surrounding districts, which included the rise and decline of the linen industry, its former importance as a market centre, the foundation of the churches and schools, and the coming of the railway to Ballynahinch. The talk also included a ‘blow-by-blow’ account of the Battle of Ballynahinch. 

NEWCASTLE — Work is expected to begin soon on the erection of 113 houses near Newcastle as part of the Housing Executive’s plan to advance their building programme for the area.

the houses, which are to be built at Murlough Upper on the Castlewellan Road, are seen by Executive officials as a natural extension to suburban housing there and the first units should be ready within 12 months. This means the houses will be available six months earlier than was originally forecast.

An Executive official told the Recorder there would be mixed development incorporating houses for old people and families of different sizes “in accordance with the need as we identify it.”

For the moment plans are being held up because of technical problems to be sorted out with local building control officials. The main problem seems to centre around the proposed design for staircases in each house. The building control people say that the stairs are too steep, that the area around the stairs is not properly ventilated and that the hallways are not fireproof.

The Executive will therefore have to redraft these specifications, but already consultations are under way to ensure that the difficulties raised by the building regulations will be minimal.

CARRYDUFF — A 27 year-old Carryduff station officer in the Fire Authority for Northern Ireland has been given the “chance of a lifetime” by winning a Churchill Travelling Fellowship Award.

He is Mr. Kenneth Harper, of The Green, Saintfield Road, Carryduff, who will travel to the USA and Canada for two months to study the prevention of accidents in the home due to fire.

The awards are given by the Winston Churchill Memorial Trustr and give the chance for a candidate to study a project overseas with all expenses paid.

DOWNPATRICK — A new secondary school, worth a mere million pounds, was handed over yesterday in Downpatrick — which for its size has the biggest school population of any town in Northern Ireland.

To be known as De La Salle Secondary School, it was handed over by Mr. Hugh O’Boyle, head of H. J. O’Boyle Ltd., local building contractors, to Bro. Andrew, headmaster, and it is expected to become fully operational in three weeks’ time.

An attractive building which approximately consists of two four wings, it is within the campus of St. Patrick’s High School. The technical wing is one of the most advanced of its type in the British Isles.

On March 3 530 pupils from St. Patrick’s Secondary School will move to the new building and find that the craft accommodation alone is trebled in size. Rather than two science laboratories at present, they will have four, and two metalwork rooms rather than one.

The sports hall is the largest int he town and supplements the large gymnasium which also serves as an assembly hall.

The existing staff of 27 should be increased to 32 at the start of the next school year in September. The school to be vacated at Edward Street will be occupied by the pupils of St. Patrick’s Boys’ Primary School.

In addition to Mr. O’Boyle and Bro. Andrew at yesterday’s ceremony, others present were Bro. Columba, provincial of the De La Salle Order, Bro. Stephen, headmaster of St. Patrick’s High School, Bro. Ignatius, headmaster of the boys’ school, and Bro. Eusebius, secretary of the High School.

MAGHERAMAYO — The sheep-worrying saga continued on Monday when two animals were injured in the Magheramayo area of Castlewellan. Several days previously a ewe, owned by Mr. Bertie Kilpatrick, Carrickmaddy Row, Boardmills, was found dead.

CROSSGAR — Crossgar was the only one of the seven local savings committees who showed an increase in gross small savings for the month of November. A total of £3,839 was saved compared to £1,980 in November 1973.

Ballynahinch remained top of the list, saving £74,307, but this showed a decrease of £1,792. Downpatrick, although falling by £18,567, was the second highest, saving £38,881.

KILLYLEAGH — Many of the Killyleagh Parish Cub Scout pack cycled in the local countryside in preparation for the Cycle Proficiency badge last Saturday.

And at Newtownards swimming pool last Tuesday Andrew Turley and Paul Quinn were examined for the first stage of the Swimmer Badge. Drew Cranton and Philip Quinn are at present working for the second stage of this badge.

COMBER — The Comber firm of McComb Plastics has just sent off its first export order to America, three weeks ahead of schedule. A batch of eight GP14 sailing dinghies had to be completed in little over a month.

These boats will be exhibited at the New York Boat Show and another three are likely to be taken over in July by the Ulster contingent of helmsmen going to the World GP14 Championships at Stone Harbour, New York.

SAINTFIELD — A total of 862 head wer eon offer with a good demand in all sections at the weekly cattle sale held by Saintfield Livestock Mart Ltd. A tota of 426 bullocks came under the hammer with very keen customers in attendance.

GAELIC FOOTBALL — Down are well and truly back in the league race. That was the message sounded from St. Patrick’s Park, Newcastle, on Sunday when last year’s beaten finalists from Ulster met section leaders Meath and literally tore them apart. Certainly this rejuvenated Down squad were reminiscent of the Down of old.

Down team and scorers: Joe O’Hare, Brendan Sloan, Dan McCartan, Peter Hamill, Cecil Ward, Mark Turley, Martin Slevin, John Murphy, Colm McAlarney (0-1), Mickey Cunningham (0-2), Peter  Rooney (0-2), Clem Stewart, Aidan Hanna (0-2), Sean O’Neill (0-2), Willie Walsh (0-3).